Dr. Robert James, known artistically as Andrew James, represents a rare and enriching confluence of scientific insight and primal artistic energy. Born in Liverpool and now based on the Isle of Man, he currently teaches mathematics part-time at a local prison — but his identity stretches far beyond the classroom. With a PhD from the University of St Andrews in behavioural ecology and a deep fascination with both environmental systems and human behaviour, his life has been a continuous dance between the rational and the intuitive.
Now, Andrew stands at a unique crossroad: rediscovering and reigniting his creative drive after years immersed in science. His artistic voice is raw, instinctual, and vibrantly alive — guided by colour, movement, and a visceral urge to create.
Early Influences: Science, Sound, and the Subconscious
Growing up in Liverpool, a city alive with cultural history and working-class energy, Andrew was surrounded by music and ideas. His intellectual pursuits took him into the realm of ecology and anthropology, where he investigated complex behavioural systems and environmental patterns. But alongside the analytical, there always pulsed a creative thread — one that never truly disappeared.
“Music has always been important to me,” Andrew shares, hinting at how rhythm and improvisation may also guide his visual work. His approach to art is not unlike jazz: spontaneous, expressive, and deeply emotional. This intuitive force, often described by him as “primal energy,” drives the direction of each piece.
The Medium and the Message: Marks Made with Meaning
Andrew James is a multi-material artist — drawn less to formal structure and more to the tactile, instinctive nature of creation. He paints with acrylics, draws with pens, sketches with ink, and is open to anything that makes a mark. He doesn’t approach a canvas with a rigid plan, but rather follows the flow of lines, curves, and colours until a natural, organic outcome reveals itself.
“There’s an urge to create,” he says. “It consumes me.”
This urge is not passive — it is a living force that manifests in every stroke. His work is not only an artistic exercise, but a dialogue between the conscious and subconscious. With no intention of mimicry or realism, Andrew’s images grow from a place of internal energy — shaped more by sensation than precision.
Reawakening the Artist: A Return to Colour
Though Andrew is not new to art, he considers himself at the beginning of his artistic journey — again. Years ago, his work was displayed in cafés and restaurants across North London, where it caught the attention of local audiences and even resulted in a few sales. But his path then veered toward academia and ecological research.
Now, with renewed focus, he sees the opportunity not just to return to art but to integrate it with the insights of his scientific life. “It would be nice to combine both,” he says — envisioning a practice where behavioural patterns, environmental symbolism, and visual storytelling all come together on the canvas.
This merging of the analytic and the aesthetic opens powerful possibilities. His work can reflect natural systems without illustration, express emotional complexity without narrative, and embody scientific curiosity without textbook diagrams. The result is art that vibrates with personal intensity but also invites viewers to consider broader connections — between human nature and the natural world, between reason and instinct, and between data and feeling.
Colour as Emotion, Form as Instinct
At the heart of Andrew’s practice lies a deep love of colour. He doesn’t use it with restraint or in accordance with theory. Instead, colour becomes a language in itself — one that speaks directly from mood and movement. The way a brushstroke curves, or a hue overlaps another, is guided more by sensation than by rules.
His pieces often evoke motion and tension, but always feel grounded in the organic. There’s a sense that they grew rather than were painted — like ivy winding, water pooling, or energy expanding. Viewers are drawn in by the texture, the layering, and the unspoken emotion behind each shape.
Creating from the Isle of Man: A Quiet Power
Living and working on the Isle of Man offers Andrew a unique creative setting. Removed from the rush of mainland life, he finds a calm but potent energy in the island’s landscapes, its silences, and its sense of history. The island’s natural beauty, rugged coastlines, and layered past offer quiet inspiration — informing his artistic instinct even if not directly represented.
His teaching role at a local prison also adds depth to his reflections on human behaviour and transformation. The contrast between rigid systems and free expression gives his artwork a layered context — it is both a personal act and a reflection of the desire for freedom, creativity, and emotional release.
Looking Ahead: Merging Worlds
As Andrew moves forward, his vision is to bring together the full scope of his life experience — as a scientist, educator, and artist — into a cohesive creative practice. He is open to exhibitions, collaborations, and conversations that push boundaries and blur lines.
Whether working on small paper studies or large, immersive paintings, he lets the materials speak, lets the colours run, and lets instinct take the lead. This journey — still unfolding — is a bold step toward not only self-expression but also integration. It’s about reconciling all parts of who he is and allowing them to take shape through art.
